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Hunt pledges meningococcal quad vax funding
Posted 11 September 2017
Health Minister Greg Hunt has given the strongest indication yet that that the four-strain (quad) meningococcal vaccine that covers the A, C, Y and W meningococcal strains will be listed on the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
In an interview on the ABC's 7.30 report program last week Hunt said; "It's in the hands of the medical authorities at the moment, but the indications are very positive so I'm optimistic we'll have this well in time for next year's season."
Currently the government is only funding free vaccines for one of the five strains of meningococcal disease, the meningococcal C strain.
The program, which focused primarily on meningococcal B, documented the case of Perth baby boy Robbie Buchan, who had his arms and legs amputated after contracting the deadly meningococcal B acute bacterial infection.
This year, 209 people have contracted meningococcal strains, and 13 have died, with 82 cases of B this year, including 26 in New South Wales and 16 in South Australia, the report said.
GSK, manufacturer of meningococcal B vaccine Bexsero, is now funding a South Australian study to convince the federal government it's worth subsidising.
In June, GSK told a Senate estimates hearing it will not be re-applying in the near-term to have Bexsero added to the National Immunisation Program.
A GSK Australia spokesperson said: "The PBAC has assessed and declined to recommend Bexsero on three occasions. Other countries have assessed similar evidence and have decided to reimburse Bexsero."
None-thw-less, Tthe PBAC has requested information and GSK is supporting further research.
"The results of this research are anticipated in 2019, after which we will be able to consider a resubmission to the PBAC," GSK said.
GSK has increased supply of its ACWY combination vaccine, Menveo, with additional doses available from pharmacies and GP surgeries in the next week, while there are no shortages of Bexsero.
In February, Queensland joined other states Western Australia, NSW and Victoria in funding the quad meningococcal vaccines (ACWY vaccine) to teens or older high school students, with vaccines supplied by Pfizer (Nimenrix), Sanofi (Menactra), and GSK (Menveo).
Warren Beaumont
warren.beaumont@lushmedia.com.au
Posted 11 September 2017
Health Minister Greg Hunt has given the strongest indication yet that that the four-strain (quad) meningococcal vaccine that covers the A, C, Y and W meningococcal strains will be listed on the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
In an interview on the ABC's 7.30 report program last week Hunt said; "It's in the hands of the medical authorities at the moment, but the indications are very positive so I'm optimistic we'll have this well in time for next year's season."
Currently the government is only funding free vaccines for one of the five strains of meningococcal disease, the meningococcal C strain.
The program, which focused primarily on meningococcal B, documented the case of Perth baby boy Robbie Buchan, who had his arms and legs amputated after contracting the deadly meningococcal B acute bacterial infection.
This year, 209 people have contracted meningococcal strains, and 13 have died, with 82 cases of B this year, including 26 in New South Wales and 16 in South Australia, the report said.
GSK, manufacturer of meningococcal B vaccine Bexsero, is now funding a South Australian study to convince the federal government it's worth subsidising.
In June, GSK told a Senate estimates hearing it will not be re-applying in the near-term to have Bexsero added to the National Immunisation Program.
A GSK Australia spokesperson said: "The PBAC has assessed and declined to recommend Bexsero on three occasions. Other countries have assessed similar evidence and have decided to reimburse Bexsero."
None-thw-less, Tthe PBAC has requested information and GSK is supporting further research.
"The results of this research are anticipated in 2019, after which we will be able to consider a resubmission to the PBAC," GSK said.
GSK has increased supply of its ACWY combination vaccine, Menveo, with additional doses available from pharmacies and GP surgeries in the next week, while there are no shortages of Bexsero.
In February, Queensland joined other states Western Australia, NSW and Victoria in funding the quad meningococcal vaccines (ACWY vaccine) to teens or older high school students, with vaccines supplied by Pfizer (Nimenrix), Sanofi (Menactra), and GSK (Menveo).
Warren Beaumont
warren.beaumont@lushmedia.com.au
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